can I have checked baggage from new york to baltimore Penn stations?

Hi, I want to take a train from New York to Baltimore = I am confused with the Amtrak booking site. when you choose your time of travel, left menu has icons for snack bar, quiet car and wi-fi, directly under these icons states "no checked baggage" BUT if you hover over the fare type eg Saver/Value/Flexible/Premium - 2 free checked bags is ticked. So, can I take my suitcase on the train or not?

If you take a named train like the Carolina. But non of the corridor trains have checked bags.

One corridor train (66/67) has checked baggage, and at present that is the only option for checking a bag northbound within the NEC. However, that train has very...interesting calling times at New York (If I'm not mistaken, it arrives New York 0150 NB and departs 0315 SB).

Southbound you can also use the Carolinian, but for a variety of reasons that train is not available as an option from Baltimore northbound.

dragana said:

Hi, I want to take a train from New York to Baltimore = I am confused with the Amtrak booking site. when you choose your time of travel, left menu has icons for snack bar, quiet car and wi-fi, directly under these icons states "no checked baggage" BUT if you hover over the fare type eg Saver/Value/Flexible/Premium - 2 free checked bags is ticked. So, can I take my suitcase on the train or not?

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You can take your bags on the regionals (most of the trains that run between NYP and BAL, but you cannot "check" them. You have to be able to carry them on yourself.

One possibility is to check your bags in the night before (you can check up to 24 hours before your trip). They will be transported on that train 66/67 in the middle of the night, and will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive the next day. Please note that Amtrak is much more strict about checking claim tickets before they release baggage than the airlines, so it is highly unlikely that your bags will "walk away" while they wait for you to arrive.

dragana said:

Hi, I want to take a train from New York to Baltimore = I am confused with the Amtrak booking site. when you choose your time of travel, left menu has icons for snack bar, quiet car and wi-fi, directly under these icons states "no checked baggage" BUT if you hover over the fare type eg Saver/Value/Flexible/Premium - 2 free checked bags is ticked. So, can I take my suitcase on the train or not?

Click to expand...

Yes, you can carry your suitcase on the train. If you click on the "no checked baggage" link, you will see the popup window that explains each passenger can take 2 large pieces of luggage on the train with them.

I read a trip advisor forum from time to time, mostly the DC sub-forum to see what visitors to DC are asking about. I have been surprised at how often people post questions asking if they can take their luggage on Amtrak to go to NYC, Philly because they see the no checked baggage line and get confused, thinking that means they can't carry their large suitcase on the train at all. Those who ask this are either European who are confused at the phrasing or Americans making a tourist visit to DC, NYC who have no experience taking Amtrak or trains. Their travel experience is on airplanes where you can't take the large rolling suitcase on the plane, but have to check it. So the "no checked baggage" line throws them off and sometimes they have posted that they can't take the train because they have luggage, so they ask about alternative transportation such as buses.

People don't always click on the link. Amtrak should rethink their link to read something like "no check baggage, 2 carry-on bags allowed" or revise how the info on baggage rules is presented.

Edit follow-up: Two example recent postings on TripAdvisor.com asking about taking luggage on Amtrak

1. Washington DC to New York with luggage

2. Amtrak DC to New York - Baggage??

I don't post to the TripAdvisor forum, just read it periodically. Sometimes quite amusing to see what questions people ask about visiting DC (no, DC or the Metro is not a crime infested hellhole full of roving gangs out of Mad Max) or just how confused they are about something they can quickly figure out by looking at a map.

Do they still put the local bags on the Florida trains?

Can someone answer my above question? I booked a ticket for 125, if I arrived early enough such that the bags could go on 91, would they? Or would they end up on 67? I've read in older posts on this forum that intermediate baggage was allowed on LD's, but Anderson's post contradicts this.

I don't know the exact answer, but I think Anderson was talking about you riding on the same train as your checkked baggage. That would not be possible on the LD trains, however I believe you can check your bags on the LD trains and ride a later or earlier Regional.

Train2104 said:

Can someone answer my above question? I booked a ticket for 125, if I arrived early enough such that the bags could go on 91, would they? Or would they end up on 67? I've read in older posts on this forum that intermediate baggage was allowed on LD's, but Anderson's post contradicts this.

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I traveled from NYP to PHL after returning from a cruise. I checked my bag from NYP to PHL. They put the bags on either 19, 97, or 67. I can tell you that the bags were "Subject to Delay" the bag worker at NYP put that stamp on the claim. Next day I claimed my bags.

Acela150 said:

Train2104 said:

Can someone answer my above question? I booked a ticket for 125, if I arrived early enough such that the bags could go on 91, would they? Or would they end up on 67? I've read in older posts on this forum that intermediate baggage was allowed on LD's, but Anderson's post contradicts this.

Click to expand...

I traveled from NYP to PHL after returning from a cruise. I checked my bag from NYP to PHL. They put the bags on either 19, 97, or 67. I can tell you that the bags were "Subject to Delay" the bag worker at NYP put that stamp on the claim. Next day I claimed my bags.

Click to expand...

Thanks - I guess I'll just stop by the baggage office in NYP and ask.

Train2104 said:

Acela150 said:

Train2104 said:

Can someone answer my above question? I booked a ticket for 125, if I arrived early enough such that the bags could go on 91, would they? Or would they end up on 67? I've read in older posts on this forum that intermediate baggage was allowed on LD's, but Anderson's post contradicts this.

Click to expand...

I traveled from NYP to PHL after returning from a cruise. I checked my bag from NYP to PHL. They put the bags on either 19, 97, or 67. I can tell you that the bags were "Subject to Delay" the bag worker at NYP put that stamp on the claim. Next day I claimed my bags.

Click to expand...

Thanks - I guess I'll just stop by the baggage office in NYP and ask.

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They MAY go on the LD, but that might not offere or guaranteed, but they might just wind up on it. They for sure will go on 67 (assuming it has a baggage car that night).

Train2104 said:

Acela150 said:

Train2104 said:

Can someone answer my above question? I booked a ticket for 125, if I arrived early enough such that the bags could go on 91, would they? Or would they end up on 67? I've read in older posts on this forum that intermediate baggage was allowed on LD's, but Anderson's post contradicts this.

Click to expand...

I traveled from NYP to PHL after returning from a cruise. I checked my bag from NYP to PHL. They put the bags on either 19, 97, or 67. I can tell you that the bags were "Subject to Delay" the bag worker at NYP put that stamp on the claim. Next day I claimed my bags.

Click to expand...

Thanks - I guess I'll just stop by the baggage office in NYP and ask.

Click to expand...

A good choice, indeed. But -- have a plan B.